Holding(s) in Company

Smith WH PLC
17 June 2005

                           SCHEDULE 10
 
             NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     WH SMITH PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     STANDARD LIFE GROUP

3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of 
     holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a 
     non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
     holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

     SEE LETTER DATED 17 JUNE 2005 BELOW

4)   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the 
     number of shares held by each of them.

     SEE LETTER DATED 17 JUNE 2005 BELOW

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     N/A

6)   Percentage of issued Class


7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     N/A

8)   Percentage of issued Class


9)   Class of security

     ORDINARY SHARES OF 2 13/81 PENCE EACH

10)  Date of transaction

     N/A

11)  Date company informed

     17 JUNE 2005

12)  Total holding following this notification

     5,271,447
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     LESS THAN 3%

14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     MISS A LAM [phone]

16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification

                              A J H STEWART
                              DIRECTOR
     Date of Notification     17 JUNE 2005 



LETTER TO: SMITH WH PLC
DATED: 17 JUNE 2005


Smith WH plc Ord GBP0.021605 shares

In terms of Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended), I have to inform you
on behalf of Standard Life Investments that on 16/06/05, Standard Life
Investments disposed of 146,346 shares on behalf of Standard Life Group. This
decreased the total held as a material interest to 5,271,447 shares being below
3% of the issued stock of that class.

     No. of shares held                    Registered Name

        5,271,447                          Vidacos Nominees


FROM: CITIGROUP


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